Police step up their search for 11-year-old girl
Ottawa police are “pulling out all the stops” to find Nakayla Baskin, the 11-year-old girl who disappeared without a trace early in the early morning hours of Sept. 25.
The department says it’s calling in expertise from all of its units. Many officers have also stepped forward to offer their help to locate Nakayla, said Insp. Isobel Granger of the Ottawa Police Criminal Investigations Directorate.
“I have been overwhelmed by support from the various directorates. Internally, the response has been overwhelming,” Granger said. “Our aim is to find this girl.”
Police released their first bulletin asking for public assistance around 8 p.m. on Sept. 25. Nakayla had been reported missing by her family that morning.
In the first week after the disappearance, police received only two tips, and neither panned out. On Oct. 1, police released video of Nakayla’s family pleading for the girl to come home. Police also asked the public to report any sighting of Nakayla, and contacted other forces across the country. A few more tips have since filtered in.
Nakayla was known to be active on social media, but has not posted anything since her disappearance. She is believed to be carrying a cellphone, but it is an older model. Police attempted to locate her using GPS on the second day after she disappeared, but were unable to do so because of the age of her phone.
Police are not asking for the public’s help, except to report any information they may have about the disappearance and where Nakayla may be now. No tip is too small, Granger said.
“We would rather people call us than not,” she said. “An 11-year-old girl doesn’t go missing without someone seeing something. We need all eyes on the lookout.”
Although it is commonly believed that people seeking to make a missing persons report have to wait 24 hours to go to police, this is not the case. Ottawa police investigate all reports of missing individuals. Most cases are resolved within a few hours or days, Granger said.
The priority placed on a missing persons case depends on a number of factors. Missing persons who are very young or very old, who require prescription medications or who have a disability or dementia are priorities, as are those engaged in a high-risk lifestyle or are associated with violent behaviour.
In this case, police were concerned because of Nakayla’s age. Although she may appear to be 16 or older and is street-savvy, children of her age are considered to be vulnerable to predators.
Although “repeat runaways” are responsible for a high proportion of reports of missing children and teenagers, Nakayla has never been on police books before as a missing person or a runaway, although she has left home for a few hours on a few previous occasions, Granger said.
Nakayla’s family has asked for privacy, but have been co-operating, she said. Meanwhile, Granger issued a warning to anyone who may be harbouring Nakayla. “If anyone thinks they ’re helping her, she’s 11 years old. There’s a criminal implication to that.”
If a person is missing for more than 30 days, the case is handed over to the police major crime unit, unless there is evidence to suggest foul play before that time. There has been no such evidence in Nakayla’s case so far.
Nakayla is described as a five feet, four inches tall and weighing about 150 pounds. She has grey eyes and light brown or blondish hair that she wears in a “messy bun.” She may be carrying a medium-sized square red handbag with a “Guess” logo.
“Right now, we’re doing all we can,” Granger said. “We have a lot of talented people, experienced people. I’m very hopeful we’ll have a successful outcome.
“I’m confident of the people we have on the case.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the Ottawa police missing persons unit at 613-2361222, ext. 2355 or 613-230-6211.
Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers tollfree at 1-800-222-8477.
An 11-year-old girl doesn’t go missing without someone seeing something. We need all eyes on the lookout. INSP. ISOBEL GRANGER, of Ottawa police, on the search for 11-year-old Nakayla Baskin. STORY, this page